Samuel a



(No Model.)

S. A. FRENCH.

POLICE NIPPERS.

No. 470,117. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

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ATTORNEYS WITNESSES' %%%4 4 2 SAMUEL A. FRENCH, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

POLlCE-N|PPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,11'7,dated March 1, 1892. Application filed November 20. 1891. Serial No. 412,516- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. FRENCH, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Police-Nippers, of which the 1following is a full, clear, and exact descrip- My invention relates to animprovementin police-nippers, and has for its object to so construct the nippers that they may be conveniently and expeditiously manipulated by one hand, and whereby the moment the lock latch or lever is released the arms of the nippers will without effort on the part of the operator assume an open position.

Another object of the invention is to render the action'of the lock latch or lever more easy and certain than heretofore, and to so construct and locate the latch or lever that when the nippers are carried in the pocket they will not present sharp edges liable to tear said pocket.

The invention consists in'the novel constructlon and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 1n which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sect on, showing the nippers in their open position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the nippers closed. Fig. 3 is a section taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the nippers partly in section, illustrating a slight modification with relation to the lock-latch.

The body of the nippers is constructed in the usual manner, and consists of two pivotallyconnected members or sections A and B, each embracing a handle 0, of essentially L shape, and a curved arm 0, integral with the handle. When the sections are connected, the arms curve in direction of each other, giving to the nippers at that portion a bracelet-like appearance. The head members 10 of the handles of the sections extend in exactly opposite directions, and as the shank members 11 of the handle-sections are flat when these members are brought together a perfect T- handle is obtained. I-Ieretofore in nippersof this class the sections have been forced apart at the handle by the manipulator. Thus in applying the nippers the use of two hands has heretofore been necessary.

It is the prime object of this invention to provide a means whereby the use of but one hand will be required to apply or to remove the nippers, and whereby also the moment that the handles of the sections are released from engagement the arms will automatically and instantly be forced apart, permitting the nippers to be applied or to be withdrawn. To that end at the pivot of the-sections a spring 12 is located, exerting force in opposite directions upon said sections. The application of the spring may be made in any approved manner-as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 3- in which the spring is coiled around the pivot-pin 13, an end being attached to or made to bear against each section of the device, the action of the spring being to force the arms apart. The head member of the handle of one section is provided upon its outer face with a series of ratchet-like teeth 14, and the corresponding member of the other handlesection has a recess 15 formed therein, in which recess a spring-controlled latch or lever 16 is fulcrumed, the head whereof is to engage with the above mentioned ratchetteeth 14.

The preferred form of lock lever or latch is that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the latch or lever is pivoted between its center and one end, forming a toe-section 16, the under side of which is beveled and pressed by a spring of any desired character. When the arms of the nippers are locked by the latch or lever engaging with the-ratchet-teeth 14, the toe of the latch or lever enters the recess 15 a sufficient distance to give to the outer face of the handle a smooth surface, especially so as the head of the latch or lever is rounded off to free it from sharp corners. By reason of this construction the nippers, when carried in the pocket, will not injure it, and the hand of the operator will not be scratched or out. Then the latch or lever is provided with a foot and the nippers are locked, the operator with one hand may unlock them from either one of two points-namelv, by pressing the toe of the lever or latch inward or by drawing its head outward, both movements being most conveniently accomplished by means of 5 the thumb of the hand in which the nippers are held.

In order to prevent the handle-sections from having lateral movementand thereby remove all strain from the pivot of the sections, a pin 17 is formed upon one shank, arranged to enter an aperture 18 in the opposing shank, as is best shown in Fig. 1. The latch or lever shown in Fig. 4: is pivoted at its lower end, being minus a toe, and is pressed by a spring :5 slightly below its pivot-point.

As has heretofore been stated,nippers when constructed in the manner described may be expeditiously and conveniently operated by one hand, and the unsightly spring usually 20 employed as a lock is dispensed with. The

old form of spring when used by reason of its peculiar construction often injured the hand of an officer when manipulating the nippers, and, furthermore, as it had many sharp corners the pocketin which the nippers were carried became quickly worn, even when doubly lined.

llaving thus described the invention, I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A police-nippers comprising two springpressed members with a T-handle divided into two angular sections on a linein the plane of the pivot, the shank portions of the handles abutting when closed together, a ratchet 14 on the upper edge of the horizontal member of one section, and a pivoted latch on the corresponding member of the other section to engage said ratchet, substantially as set forth.

2. A policeaiippers consisting in two springpressed members A B, each having a shank 11, provided on their abutting faces with a pin 17 and aperture 18, respectively, and having oppositely-projeating handle portions 10, provided, respectively, with a ratchet 14; and pawl or catch 16, substantially as set forth.

SAMUEL A. FRENCH.

Witnesses:

HENRY RISHTON, FRED STILLWELL. 

